Film Composition & Sound Design
Press Release for FLOATING Kickstarter Project
Contact: Manfred Melcher FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: 413-230-7131
Email: mmelcher@mmelcher.net
Web: www.manfredmelchermusic.com
Psychotherapist and Guitarist/Composer
Manfred Melcher Pitches Online to Raise Funds for his Album on the Theme of Grief and Healing
Manfred Melcher, a psychotherapist and guitarist/composer, turns to Kickstarter to raise funds for his latest album, Floating, a collection of compositions on the theme of grief and healing. With just 4 weeks to fund, the process is testing both the online fundraising model and the psychotherapist’s nerves.
Easthampton, MA, September 2014 – Psychotherapist and guitarist/composer Manfred Melcher is turning to the Internet to raise funds for his 2nd music project, Floating, an instrumental album based on the theme of grief and healing.
Following the success of his first album, The Hours, Melcher was inspired by feedback from listeners to compose more music that had a deep emotional impact on them. “The most common reaction I received about The Hours was the music’s ability to reach into an emotional place in the listener. That both thrilled and humbled me. It also got me thinking about my next album.”
For Floating, Melcher intends to further tap his knowledge, training and experiences as a psychotherapist to compose music that is intended to console the grieving heart. Melcher notes, “Music is capable of giving expression, meaning, and purpose to life. Music can also help us understand death and dying. My intention with Floating will be to write compositions and arrangements that ease the listener’s journey through grief and healing.” The album, designed to support, encourage, and honor the grieving process, will consist of original instrumental music and 2-3 arrangements of traditional music. Several compositions will be specifically written to celebrate the life of someone who has passed away.
Another unique feature of the album will be that Melcher intends to invite other psychotherapists, many of whom are accomplished musicians, as guest artists on the album. “I’m eager to write compositions that will make use of not only my colleagues’ musical talents, but also their gifts as healers.”
Melcher also anticipates that the therapeutic/counseling community will be able to utilize the CD in their work with those who are grieving or navigating difficult times. “In my work as a psychotherapist, I have often encouraged clients to use music as a means to access and give expression to their grief. Music naturally soothes and comforts the grieving heart. Music can give expression to emotions that are somehow beyond words.”
With funding as the first major obstacle to getting any album off the ground, musicians have to become more innovative in their fundraising tactics, and the independent music community has embraced sites like Kickstarter.com. In line with Kickstarter.com guidelines, artists have a set number of days to raise all the funds, or the project receives nothing. Melcher’s album has a 31-day fundraising window, from start to finish. If the allotted budget ($10,000 US) isn't raised by Sunday October 19th at 6:00 PM, all pledges are cancelled and the album will not be funded.
Many creative people have celebrated Kickstarter for its ability to spread the word online about a project quickly to many people. A Kickstarter campaign will also keep people updated on the status of the project. An added advantage for artists is Kickstarter's merchant partner Amazon.com, which enables each project the convenience of receiving funds from anywhere in the world.
Given the universal human experience of grief, Melcher is especially hopeful that his project will appeal to people globally and that some of them will value the intention for the album enough to donate funds to make Floating a reality. Consider donating as little as $1 to help his project come to life. If you decide to donate more, you can receive a copy of Floating or even commission Melcher to compose a composition to celebrate the life of a loved one who has passed away. Be sure to follow him on Twitter and Facebook to follow his progress.
To learn more about the album, readers can visit the project's pitch page here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/manfredmelcher/floating
or
or follow him at:
http://www.manfredmelchermusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/manfredmelcher
http://www.twitter.com/manfredmelcher
About Manfred Melcher:
Manfred Melcher received his MSW from The Smith College School for Social Work and has been a
psychotherapist since 1999. In addition to his creative pursuits in music, Melcher has been an actor, appearing on such TV shows as Seinfeld, 21-Jump Street, Reasonable Doubts, Growing Pains, and several After-School Specials. He is the author of the book Becoming a Social Worker: Reflections of a Clinician’s Transformative Journey, published by White Hat Communications in 2002. His album, The Hours, was self-produced under his ManMade Records label and can be purchased via CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, or his website manfredmelchermusic.com.
Contact:
Manfred Melcher
413-230-7131
http://www.manfredmelchermusic.com
http://www.manfredmelcher.com (psychotherapy practice)
http://www.facebook.com/manfredmelcher
http://www.twitter.com/manfredmelcher